| 8:1 | The Excellence of WisdomWisdom Is Everlasting Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? |
| 8:2 | She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet. |
| 8:3 | She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors: |
| 8:4 | To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. |
| 8:5 | O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. |
| 8:6 | Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; |
| 8:7 | For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. |
| 8:8 | All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. |
| 8:9 | They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. |
| 8:10 | Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; |
| 8:11 | For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. |
| 8:12 | I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. |
| 8:13 | The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. |
| 8:14 | Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. |
| 8:15 | By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. |
| 8:16 | By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. |
| 8:17 | I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. |
| 8:18 | Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. |
| 8:19 | My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. |
| 8:20 | I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, |
| 8:21 | That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. |
| 8:22 | The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. |
| 8:23 | I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. |
| 8:24 | When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. |
| 8:25 | Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; |
| 8:26 | While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. |
| 8:27 | When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, |
| 8:28 | When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, |
| 8:29 | When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, |
| 8:30 | Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, |
| 8:31 | Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. |
| 8:32 | Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. |
| 8:33 | Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. |
| 8:34 | Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. |
| 8:35 | For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; |
| 8:36 | But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death." |